Our Mission

The South Slope Dog Owners Association has adopted the park land located on 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues close to the corner of 7th Avenue. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in the Greenwood Heights area by creating and maintaining dog friendly space, encouraging beautification of green space, promoting awareness of laws and etiquette relating to dog ownership, and fostering positive interaction between dog owners and the community as a whole.

10/19/2012

Here is a summary and evaluation of the results from the last survey that was sent to the google group on May 26, 2011:

The wood chip survey results were somewhat interesting. There are 255 park users on the email list. 45 park users voted in total. 45 voters represents less than 20% of the park users on the email list. The vote was 25 in favor and 17 against (3 abstained). Although 25 represents 59.5% in favor, with less than 20% of the park users who are interested enough in the park to be on the email list abstaining from the vote, I do not feel that 59.5% represents a consensus. Furthermore, of the 45 voters only 13 were willing or able to do the manual labor necessary. 25 of the voters were willing to donate $25/year. 25 times $25 is $650. Even if everyone followed through with donations, $650 is not enough money to hire workers regularly to surface the park with wood chips and maintain them. There was no agreement on convenient times for park maintenance - the 13 voters willing to volunteer were split evenly.

Many of the comments indicated ambivalence around the wood chip issue with many questions about alternative surfaces. Many of the reasons given against wood chips prevent dogs from enjoying the park. These reasons included dogs getting into fights, sanitary concerns, injured paws, difficulty walking/running on the chips, concerns over emergencies involving dogs that eat the chips, and lack of clean up due to difficulty locating poop. The reasons given in favor of the wood chips were primarily a matter of convenience or aesthetics. These reasons included being able to use the park in the rain, and keeping the dirt to a minimum. The only sanitary reason given in favor was concern over standing water.

In terms of our relationship with the community and the Parks Department, I discussed the issue at length with our park manager. Coincidentally, he owns 3 dogs. In spite of the fact that he is "graded" based on the appearance of his parks, he is not in favor of the chips because he feels they are not much fun for dogs. Further, he feels that they cause sanitary problems and are difficult to maintain. He is also concerned about the risk of injury to pedestrians, who must navigate the chips that fall on the sidewalks around the park. In addition, one of the top people in charge of the Brooklyn Parks Department is adamantly against the wood chips, because their use has led to rat infestations at several parks.

So, it seems obvious to me that we should not use wood chips at the park. My assessment is that the survey results indicate that the vast majority of park users are either indifferent or ambivalent on the wood chip issue. Further, the relatively close vote does not indicate a clear consensus. Further, the numerous the reasons against wood chips actually prevent dogs from using the park. The reasons given in favor of the chips are more easily circumvented. For example, if you are bothered by mud or the rare standing water, perhaps it would be best not to use the park after periods of heavy rain. The dust is uncomfortable, but seasonal. Further, the practical reality is that we simply do not have the physical and/or financial support to handle the chips.

I hope that the 25 of you who wanted the wood chips can still enjoy the park this summer. I feel that our next step should be an effort to create a "state of the art" park for the community, where we could have greater control over the surface. I will arrange a meeting for sometime in June, where we can come together and discuss the community's needs. I will also arrange a park clean up day, where we can at least remove the wood chips that are against the fences, and patch any holes. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with your suggestions and concerns.

07/14/2011

Sean Casey Animal Rescue is having a charity benefit to raise desperately needed funds to finish the completion of our second rescue shelter facility which will enable us to save up to 5000 animals in 2012. A generous donation to Sean Casey Animal Rescue, which includes a 2 hour open bar, 7-9pm; reduced price drinks from 9pm-12am; hors d'oeuvres; authentic Italian cuisine buffet inspired by Executive Chef Mirco Grassini, will help to save an animals' life. By supporting and donating to Sean Casey Animal Rescue, you will help us finish the construction of a second rescue shelter and you will be directly responsible for assisting in potentially rescuing and saving an additional 100 animals a month.

Theme: Give the Gift of Life...Make a Positive Difference in the Life of an Animal

05/21/2011

Many of you have been wondering about plans to resurface the park with wood chips for the warmer/wetter months. In the fall, when we decided not to put wood chips down, there were several issues that came up:

Some dog owners felt that the chips where hazardous for various reasons including twisted paws and dogs who ate the chips. Some dogs also became possessive over chips, which prompted fights.

Other dog owners felt that the wood chips were too much effort for what they were worth - several of these dog owners were amongst the 20 or so regular park users who performed the manual labor necessary to put down the chips. In addition, some of these dog owners felt that too much maintenance was needed to keep the chips in the park - i.e. raking on a biweekly basis to spread chips pushed to the edges and collecting the chips that ended up on the sidewalk around the park. Some of these dog owners also mentioned that only a few people pitched in on the work compared to the number of people who regularly use the park.

Still other dog owners felt that the chips made it too hard to locate where dogs have gone to the bathroom, making the park an unsanitary mine field.

When we took an informal vote last September, and just over half of the relatively few people who weighed in were against wood chips.

Because several of you have expressed your preference for wood chips to me directly, I would like to reopen this conversation. (Unfortunately, wood chips are the only surface that does not require drainage (i.e. gravel is not an option) and it is also the only surface that the Parks Dept provides for free.) Also, one idea that has been suggested is to raise funds to hire workers to do the manual labor involved. In order to get a better sense of what the community prefers overall, I have created an online survey. Here is the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZNFPKNL

Please respond by Wednesday, May 25th. I will let you know the poll results asap!

10/27/2010

Please consider donating an item for the silent auction! We are accepting items such as gift certificates from local businesses, jewelry, art, collectibles, etc. Items need not be dog-related and no item is too small. All donations are tax deductible.

10/12/2010

We all know how important the dog run is to our lives and the lives of our dogs. Wouldn't it be great if New York City had more dog runs for all of us to enjoy? Dan from our dog run thinks so, and that's why he and his friend designed this MORE DOG RUNS t-shirt. They're offering them for the special price of $20 and are donating a portion of each sale to the South Slope Dog Association.

The shirts are printed on soft, premium quality American Apparel jersey t-shirts and are available in S, M, L and XL.

Email Dan at bqtshirts@gmail.com to reserve yours now. He's happy to meet you at the dog run to deliver your shirt and accept payment (cash or personal check). You can also order online at www.bqtshirts.com and have your shirt shipped. Thanks for your continued support of our dog run and for more dog runs like it!